Flat Roof Leak

2989 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by Ed the Roofer, Jun 27, 2009

stubits

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2009

I just discovered a relatively small leak in my asphalt roll flat roof. From what I can ascertain, it seems like there must be a break in the flashing around the house's main stack (3" cast iron), allowing a small amount of water to trickle in and run straight down the stack and into the attic. If necessary I can make my way up onto the roof tomorrow and take some photos (it's currently raining), but from previous visits to the roof I know that the flashing is not one of those preformed rubber or metal ones, rather, it looks as though some pliable metal (perhaps lead) was used and then coated with roofing cement.

So, how do I go about fixing this? The roof is in otherwise great shape.

Thanks!

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Ed the Roofer

· #2 · Jun 27, 2009

Read through these threads for similar advice on how to properly patch a flat roofing material and any flashings, looking for the terms, "Dope And Minnie", which is a Chicago terminology, but it is described succinctly in those various posts.

Ed

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Ed the Roofer

· #4 · Jun 27, 2009

Any asphaltic based flat roofing material will bind properly with a good grade Plastic Roofing Cement.

If there is No Boot flashing on it now, why did you describe the Lead covering in your first post?

I think possibly you Do have a lead boot flashings, but that does not matter for the repair aspect.

Get a new pipe boot flashing. Remove the old one carefully, so as not to damage the roofing material it is bonded to.

Install the new one. Under the flanges, trowel apply a thin layer of plastic roofing cement. Set the new boots flanges into this roofing cement. (Use some chalk to outline the perimeter edges of the boot flashing first, so you do not go overboard and get the area all messy. Tap the flanges into the bed of roofing cement. Now, apply the layer or roof cement, membrane fabric and then a top skin coat of roofing cement as described in the other posts I pointed out to you in my other reply.

Ed

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